January 17, 2016

Worth a Thousand Words: The Power of Illustrations

Photography gets all the glory, but there is nothing that can match the wit and warmth of an artist's illustration. Here at Knack we realize the power of a thoughtful illustration, and we love working with talented illustrators on all kinds of projects from annual reports to animated clips.

One of our favorites is Eric Hanson. Knack has worked with Eric on numerous projects. His drawings make us think and smile. Here is Eric's take on information overload in our modern society. We can certainly relate!

December 7, 2015

The 7-step Retirement Goal Planning System® iPad App

Retirement planning can be less stressful if you make it more personal. Start your journey right with the Retirement Goal Planning System® iPad App, which uses science-based principles to help you rethink your goals, what you value most and what you might be missing.

The App is a new kind of "thinking tool" that helps you break down a complex problem like retirement into a series of seven manageable "thinking steps" that address specific challenges identified by the field of behavioral finance. Knack developed the free, easy-to-follow App as a companion tool for the new book "Thinking Smarter" by Shlomo Benartzi. The book explores the science behind the Retirement Goal Planning System® — a unique, seven-step system that helps people identify what they value most, what they want to achieve and, ultimately, who they really are.

Retirement Goal Planning System® by Allianz Global Investors Center for Behavioral Finance

Now Available as a Free Download on the App Store

Get a copy of Thinking Smarter: Seven Steps to Your Fulfilling Retirement...and Life

November 12, 2015

Developing a custom App for IDF

Interior Design Fair (IDF) is a San Francisco based firm working on premier residential and commercial projects. Looking for a novel way to introduce the design process to individuals new to working with an interior designer, IDF approached Knack to create a custom iPad App.

The App is intended to be used directly with prospective business customers. A digital “Welcome Kit”, the App is designed as a supporting informational tool during the initial client meeting. Sections of the App include an introduction, an step-by-step overview of IDF’s specialized approach to the design process, short bios of the design team, as well as providing a list of services and sample deliverables.

The IDF Welcome Kit was developed as a hybrid app for both web and iOS.

October 10, 2015

Art for AIDS 2015

Friday evening October 9th, marked the 10th year Knack Design has participated in the annual Art For AIDS benefit event. Knack teamed up with friend and colleague Mustafa Önder to donate his photographic piece titled “Live Long and Prosper” - we are pleased to announce it sold and helped raise money for this important event.

Knack staff and friends gathered and a had a chance to mingle with artists, patrons, and stylish guests while having the opportunity to purchase and bid on some extraordinary artwork. We would like to thank all of the organizers, donors and sponsors involved, with a special thank you to James Bacchi and Annette Schutz of ArtHaus and Mustafa Önder for their continued collaboration.

Photography by: Mustafa Önder

May 12, 2015

Thinking Smarter Book Jacket

In Thinking Smarter, behavioral economist Shlomo Benartzi introduces the notion of thinking architecture and thinking tools.

One such thinking tool, a unique seven-step system called the Goal Planning System (GPS), helps individuals identify what they value most, what they want to achieve in retirement, and ultimately, who they really are. By going through GPS, readers will then have a solid foundation upon which to build a tailored action plan that can help them attain their goals.

Knack worked directly with the author from concept to final execution of the jacket graphics. Knack also designed and built the Goal Planning System (GPS) app for Allianz Global Investors.

Get a copy of Thinking Smarter: Seven Steps to Your Fulfilling Retirement...and Life

October 10, 2014

Designing a mark for behavioral economics think tank, Digitai

Being on the forefront of behavioral economics, Digitai needed a brand they could put to use quickly. Starting with the core concept of ‘designing digital interventions to drive behavioral changes’, Knack created a clean but purposeful identity. We worked with the founder to devise a distinctive brand system based around the elements of the Digitai identity: type and color.

April 8, 2014

Introducing Healthy, Natural
High-performance Skin Care

United Kingdom–based Nude Skincare approached Knack to create and produce an eye-catching launch box for their new line of Pro Genius Omega Treatment Oil.

The brand logomark lent itself to elegant die-cut elements on the lid, as well as repeat pattern accents on the interior. The piece included three pantone colors, a custom match color and a luxe, soft-touch finish. The interior product tray was designed to be modular—allowing for a variety of content over several launches.

Photograph by Mustafa Önder

September 13, 2013

You Know Who Quiz.

Here at Knack Design we are huge fans of all things science fiction. This year the iconic BBC television stable, Doctor Who, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Knack took the opportunity to mark the occasion by designing a fun & engaging site for fans.

The You Know Who quiz is optimized to be played on an iPad, and adds another element of entertainment to the conventional quiz.

The premise is simple: armed with an iPad, single players, or teams of Doctor Who aficionados, traverse their way through 12 categories with 10 questions. Each category touches on some aspect of the 50 years of Doctor Who. Categories include The Daleks, The Tardis, The Time Lords, etc. 

Upon completing, scores are tallied and each team or player is given a ranking and badge. The quiz features Facebook integration to share your results with your friends and impress them with your knowledge! 

Knack would like to thank our friends at Den of Geek for featuring the quiz on their Doctor Who 50th Anniversary: Fan Round-Up. Read Here.

The game is free and open to all — Play Here!

April 8, 2013

"Beautiful" in any language: Estee Lauder translation project

In today's global economy it's essential for companies to reach out to customers all around the world. Knack works with clients to translate collateral and packaging materials into many different languages. We recently teamed up with Estee Lauder on their largest translation project to date, a promotional handout for customers at Estee Lauder retail counters worldwide. Working directly with a team of translators, we oversaw the entire process of having the copy translated into 44 languages, from Arabic to Urdu, then designed a unique version of the piece for each market. The project was a huge success and our client was able to connect with a larger market.

October 18, 2012

Shane Bauer Website Launch

Today Knack is excited to be launching a website for investigative journalist and photographer Shane Bauer. You may remember Shane was imprisoned in Iran from 2009 to 2011 with his wife Sarah Shourd and their friend Josh Fattal after being captured on the Iraqi border while hiking.

Now Shane is back to investigating and writing stories; his eye-opening piece on American prisons appears today in Mother Jones along with an op-ed in the LA Times.

We met Shane several years before his capture and worked on a website for him at that time. This new site is a showcase for Shane's latest work including articles, photography and videos created from his world travels.

April 12, 2012

Save More Tomorrow book release

Did you know that the average American worker is woefully unprepared for retirement? Most people save less than a quarter of the amount needed. And almost one-third haven't even enrolled in their company 401(k) plan.

That's the premise of a brand new book, Save More Tomorrow: Practical Behavioral Finance Solutions to Improve 401k Plans by Shlomo Benartzi (with Roger Lewin), being released today by Penguin Group.

Knack designed the diagrams, charts and graphs for the project, which is being called "a trillion dollar book" in terms of social value. In the process we honed our knowledge about the relatively new science of behavioral finance, or how human behavior affects money decisions (and yes, I confess I am guilty of some of these money mistakes!).

The author is Shlomo Benartzi, Professor at UCLA and chief behavioral economist for the Allianz Global Investors Center for Behavioral Finance. We worked closely with Shlomo for more than a year on the book project, transforming his financial data into simple, easy-to-digest graphics. The result is a fascinating glimpse into people's attitudes toward money and the big mistakes they make managing it.

The Save More Tomorrow program, developed by Shlomo and fellow behavioral finance expert Richard Thaler, has taken off in a big way. It's all about increasing your 401(k) contribution or other savings when you get a future pay raise. More than half of the large employers in the U.S. have now adopted Save More Tomorrow for their employee retirement savings plans.

Knack is excited to be part of this amazing wave of change.

March 22, 2012

Opening Reception for Mustafa Önder Exhibition at Salon Macias

Friends gathered at Salon Macias www.salonmacias.com to celebrate and enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres at an opening reception for an exhibition of work by our friend and colleague photographer Mustafa Önder.

Knack recently created Mustafa's new website. www.mustafaonder.com

The show will be on exhibit through the end of April.

Salon Macias
1757 Union Street
(between Octavia and Gough)
San Francisco, CA 94123

February 16, 2012

New website launch for Salon Macias

Knack is thrilled to announce the launch of the elegant new website for Salon Macias www.salonmacias.com. Complete with enhanced features such as an an iPad friendly interface, the clean design showcases owner Carlos Macias' chic style and skill. Photography on the website is by Ethan Kaplan www.kaplanphoto.com.

Nestled in the lively Marina district, Salon Macias is a full-service hair salon and boutique spa where guests enjoy the ultimate in pampering and unparalleled personalized service.

Signature beauty treatments include facials, manicures & pedicures, waxing and massage. Along with full hair and make-up services, Salon Macias will ensure guests are radiant from head to toe.

January 6, 2012

The Save More Tomorrow Story

It's a wrap! Knack recently completed production of "The Save More Tomorrow Story" movie. This 3-minute video brings to life the Save More Tomorrow program for retirement savings, a concept co-developed by UCLA professor Shlomo Benartzi, who is also chief behavioral economist for the Allianz Global Investors Center for Behavioral Finance.

We worked with Shlomo to present the Save More Tomorrow program in a visually engaging, fast-paced video format. Quick cuts, simple motion graphics, and conversational text, all set to lively music, tell the story of Save More Tomorrow. Our idea was to engage the viewer by presenting the story from the perspective of someone who wants to save more for a happy retirement. Created with Adobe After Effects, the video's clean and simple graphics make the financial concepts easy to understand, and the fast pace drives home how effortless it is to save money with the Save More Tomorrow program.

The movie is being presented at conferences for 401(k) professionals to demonstrate the power of Save More Tomorrow. The Save More Tomorrow program has been hugely successful. More than half of the large employers in the U.S. have now adopted the program as part their employee retirement savings plans, and it's taking off overseas too.

Check out the movie above.

December 15, 2011

A Whimsical Spin on the Holiday Card

For over a decade Knack has been designing the annual holiday card for Jeffers Design Group. This year, Knack set out to develop a piece that captured Jay's signature theme of “Sophisticated Fun.”

Both elegant and playful, the stylish holiday mailer consisted of custom die-cut piece that folds into an ornament with a bespoke pattern. The "create-it-yourself" project was completed by gross grain ribbon and illustrated assembly instructions. The piece was mailed in a chic cellophane sleeve.

Overall the mailer was well received as a charming, unexpected take on the traditional holiday card.

Photograph by Mustafa Önder

November 17, 2011

Heart of SoMa Returns for Another Successful Benefit Event

Last evening was the much anticipated sa party HEART OF SOMA at Terra Gallery & Event Venue (511 Harrison Street, San Francisco) to raise money for Life Learning Academy and to celebrate community in San Francisco's SoMa District.

One of our annual "give back" projects, Knack was pleased to contribute our efforts to this worthy cause. The Knack team was approached by David Kriozere of One Rincon Hill, to create a brand and every extension of associated promotional collateral. We worked to craft a visual program which captured the spirit (and the heart) of the event. We invite you to visit the website at www.heartofsoma.com

A few of the highlights of the evening included a live performance from legendary percussionist and Bay Area native Pete Escovedo as well as culinary delights from some of San Francisco's finest restaurants including: Alexander's Steakhouse, Bix, Fifth Floor, Pedro's Cantina, Hint, Waterbar, and Sellers Markets.

Thank you to all who joined us in making the evening a success!